2010 Maryland gubernatorial election by legislative districts (maps inside!)

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Ehrlich's best Senate districts were both in the northern Baltimore County/Carroll/Harford suburbs: SD-05 (71.8%) and SD-35 (72.5%).

His best subdivided House of Delegates districts were the Garrett County-based 01A (72.3%) and, unsurprisingly, the Carroll County-based 05A (72.5%) and Harford-based 35A (74.1%).

O'Malley did best in inner PG County, also unsurprisingly. He won SD-24, 25, 26, and 47 with over 90%.

In the House of Delegates subdivided districts, O'Malley did best in the outer PG County districts of 23A (74.7%) and 23B (87.0%) and 27A (78.9%).

A few interesting notes about the subdivided districts (well, I find it interesting):

- SD-37 is drawn to be safe Republican (58.3% for Ehrlich), but HD-37A is drawn to elect a black Democrat; it stretches from the heavily-black west end of Salisbury to Cambridge. Obviously, it's the one district O'Malley won on the Eastern Shore (he got 57.7% there).

- Similarly, SD-02 is safe Republican (58.3% for Ehrlich), but O'Malley came close to winning the Hagerstown-based HD-02C (Ehrlich won it 49.5% to 46.1%).

- One thing I don't get is why SD-27 in Southern Maryland is subdivided; the Senate district went for O'Malley by 67.6% to 31.2%, but HD-27B went for Ehrlich by 53.5% to 44.6%, and the incumbent Democrat in that district got unseated last year. Only thing I can figure is 27A is drawn to be majority-black.

Now, compare these maps to the maps of incumbent state legislators (just have to reverse the colors in your mind):




There are a total of 8 Democratic Senators and 18 Democratic Delegates in Ehrlich districts:

Senate - 3, 6, 8, 29, 30, 32, 38, 42
House of Delegates - 1B, 2C, 6 (3), 8, 12A (2), 29A, 29B, 30, 32 (3), 34A, 34B, 38B, 42

And one Republican Delegate in an O'Malley district, 3A.

Finally, here's something ridiculous: Senate President Mike Miller, who is against gay marriage, is from the heavily Democratic SD-27 (67.6% to 31.2% for O'Malley, as mentioned previously), while pro-gay marriage House Speaker Michael Busch is from the Republican HD-30 (Ehrlich won it by 52.0% to 45.7%). In fact, Republicans picked up a seat in the 30th last year, leaving Busch the last Democratic Delegate from the district.

[So the Heroes Fall]

30 isn't really a Republican district though as it still has a Democratic Senator and no doubt voted for Obama heavily.

And this Miller guy needs to be primaried.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

It was about 53-47 Obama, but Presidential numbers are irrelevant since the legislature is elected in the midterms.

Miller keeps hinting that he might retire, but he keeps staying in the legislature. It's really aggravating, especially since the rest of the leadership in the Senate was in favor of it.

[So the Heroes Fall]

Oh so he's like that prick ex-House Speaker of Massachusetts who was finally removed in 2006 or so?

[nclib]

Great maps! Can you list the district numbers of the Dems who opposed gay marriage (and any Repubs who voted for it)?

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Democrats who voted no: 6, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38.
Republicans who voted yes: 9.

No actual vote in the House, so I can't give you a list there.

[So the Heroes Fall]

So those southern counties which I understood are pretty latte liberalish were opposed?

[JohnnyLongtorso]

I believe they're pretty heavily Catholic, and the Catholic church lobbied heavily against the bill. St. Mary's and Calvert are also very Republican, but Charles has been experiencing a lot of growth (particularly among blacks) that's pushed it towards the Democrats in recent years.

[nclib]

Democrats who voted no: 6, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38.
Republicans who voted yes: 9.

No actual vote in the House, so I can't give you a list there.

Seeing how many white Obama districts...

6 - McCain
23 - white-plurality
25 - black
26 - black
27
28
29 - McCain
30
32
38 - McCain

8 McCain Dem FOR gay marriage
9 McCain Repub FOR gay marriage

So districts 23, 27, 28, 30, and 32 are white majority (or plurality in the case of 23) in 2000 and voted for Obama. Does anyone know anything about such districts? Perhaps some could be black-majority now, or is there a culturally conservative Obama vote, or just a maverick Senator?

[timothyinMD]

27B is subdivided to allow for localized representation, so majority-black/Democrat P.G. Co doesn't out vote conservative rural Calvert county.

We absolutely have the most ridiculously complicated legislative districts in the country, unless someone else has a better example.

And primary Mike Miller?  He is a Democrat's Democrat to the core.

[So the Heroes Fall]

We absolutely have the most ridiculously complicated legislative districts in the country, unless someone else has a better example.

West Virginia.

[Bacon King]

We absolutely have the most ridiculously complicated legislative districts in the country, unless someone else has a better example.

West Virginia.

also, Vermont Senate

[nclib]

27B is subdivided to allow for localized representation, so majority-black/Democrat P.G. Co doesn't out vote conservative rural Calvert county.

We absolutely have the most ridiculously complicated legislative districts in the country, unless someone else has a better example.

And primary Mike Miller?  He is a Democrat's Democrat to the core.

Yes, Senate district 27 voted for Obama. I've corrected my original post.

[JohnnyLongtorso]

Democrats who voted no: 6, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38.
Republicans who voted yes: 9.

No actual vote in the House, so I can't give you a list there.

Seeing how many white Obama districts...

6 - McCain
23 - white-plurality
25 - black
26 - black
27
28
29 - McCain
30
32
38 - McCain

8 McCain Dem FOR gay marriage
9 McCain Repub FOR gay marriage

So districts 23, 27, 28, 30, and 32 are white majority (or plurality in the case of 23) in 2000 and voted for Obama. Does anyone know anything about such districts? Perhaps some could be black-majority now, or is there a culturally conservative Obama vote, or just a maverick Senator?

30 has Annapolis in it, so Obama would get the usual state capital boost (government employees). The rest look like they were probably spillover from the metropolitan area effect that helped Obama in suburbs. All of the rural white areas went heavily for McCain.

We absolutely have the most ridiculously complicated legislative districts in the country, unless someone else has a better example.

West Virginia.

also, Vermont Senate

Vermont's Senate and the huge multi-member districts in the New Hampshire House are probably the most egregious examples.